With the NFL season now in December, it’s a good time to take an early peek ahead toward the 2025 NFL Draft to see how organizations could choose to address team needs this offseason.
Here’s a closer look at the results of my Round 1 mock of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. For this exercise, I used the PFN Mock Draft Simulator to determine the draft order.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Jacksonville Jaguars likely didn’t anticipate they could be back atop the NFL Draft order just months removed from signing quarterback Trevor Lawrence to a long-term contract extension, but here they are again.
One big reason Jacksonville has been a major disappointment this year has been a secondary that has allowed a league-worst 273 yards per game. Fortunately, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson is the type of impact corner who can instantly provide a team with a dominant force on the perimeter with excellent ball skills, closing speed, and physicality to form a respectable starting duo alongside Tyson Campbell.
2) Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Shedeur Sanders isn’t a perfect prospect with limited arm talent and polarizing leadership concerns when things haven’t gone well in Colorado, but his flashes of processing, anticipation, and off-script creation all project favorably to competently running an NFL offense.
Who knows if Antonio Pierce will get a second year as the Las Vegas Raiders head coach, but the safety blanket of star tight end Brock Bowers should give Raider Nation a reason to be optimistic about the future of an offensive unit that hasn’t had much to get excited about in recent years.
3) New York Giants: Cameron Ward, QB, Miami
Speaking of excitement, it’s hard not to see a potential franchise quarterback when you come across Miami QB Cam Ward. Some of the throws he makes defy physics. The velocity and compact release make for some truly special reps that can get any fan excited.
Yet, some of these reps go against the modern conventions of playing the position. Ward plays on his toes, bounces around a clean pocket, and plays out of structure a bit too frequently. However, his ability to extend plays and manufacture explosive plays off script is part of what makes him a quality dual-threat signal-caller.
Who knows if Brian Daboll will remain the New York Giants head coach entering the 2025 season. But if he (or another) offensive-minded coach can manage to construct an offense around Ward’s talents to foster his continued development as a passer, then the Giants could very well finally have the answer at quarterback.
4) New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The New England Patriots organization has to be feeling pretty good about what they’ve seen from Drake Maye to start his career. Maye’s 1,696 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, along with an additional 345 yards on the ground while playing with a subpar supporting cast across the board, should be considered a successful start to his career.
Oddly enough, the Patriots have the opportunity to add a dynamic weapon for Maye on the perimeter while additionally finding another ball-hawking playmaker to pair with Christian Gonzalez in the secondary with Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter.
Do I see Hunter playing 100+ snaps per game on Sundays? Probably not, but his uncommon ability to excel on both sides of the ball is simply too good to pass up for New England at No. 4 overall.
5) Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
If you were to conduct this mock draft after Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, you would likely see the Carolina Panthers drafting another quarterback. Yet, Bryce Young has managed to play extraordinarily well over his last two games against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs and division-rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Personally, I don’t think it’s time to give up on Young yet, which has me leaning towards addressing the wide receiver position for a second straight year.
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan has all the makings of a prototypical NFL X receiver and could be the missing piece for a team that could resemble the Green Bay Packers ensemble of young pass catchers who all bring something a bit different to Dave Canales’ WR room.
6) New York Jets: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
The New York Jets gave Aaron Rodgers nearly everything he wanted this season, and the results have been laughably terrible. The veteran quarterback’s future with the organization is unclear at this time, but if Rodgers doesn’t return for a third year in New York, then the Jets will need to look elsewhere.
This may be the highest you’ll see Penn State QB Drew Allar mocked this offseason, but from the flashes I’ve seen from him, he looks like a franchise quarterback.
The arm talent is exceptional. Allar’s velocity, arm elasticity, and improved touch on layered throws this year make him a potential weapon as a pocket passer. He has a multitude of reps where he plays on script and throws with anticipation over the middle of the field with pinpoint accuracy — when his mechanics remain intact.
Unfortunately, Allar has Drake Maye-type accuracy inconsistencies to his game with some absolutely head-scratching misses but doesn’t possess the plus-level athleticism to give you much as a runner to compensate for some of those shortcomings.
When Allar puts it all together, I see a quarterback with a very high ceiling. Processing, anticipation, and the arm talent are all present. His progress in the accuracy department — from 59.9% in 2023 to 71.6% in 2024 — means he’s capable of improving in places where he previously struggled.
7) Tennessee Titans: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Remember when the Tennessee Titans thought Will Levis was the future under center? To be fair, the ink isn’t fully dry on his season yet. However, I’m not sure head coach Brian Callahan wants to bet his future with the organization hitching his wagon to Levis again in 2025.
This brings us another quarterback being selected in the top 10 with Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.
Milroe is a special athlete blessed with immense arm talent. This ability to throw bombs vertically down the field pairs very well with a Tennessee offense that ranks 30th in passing yards but 12th in completions of 40+ yards in 2024.
8) Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Cleveland Browns have some great defensive pieces in Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, yet they don’t have an impact player in the interior of the defensive line.
Well, Michigan’s Mason Graham would instantly solve that problem and provide the Browns with a dominant force who can make an instant impact as a three-down contributor.
9) New Orleans Saints: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Chase Young experiment in the Big Easy has netted just 3.5 sacks through the first 13 weeks of the season, which means the New Orleans Saints could use some pass-rushing juice entering next year.
Fortunately, Abdul Carter has explosive traits that resemble a firecracker coming off the edge. Compact, bendy, and explosive are three of the elements that go into making an impact edge defender, which Carter has in spades.
10) Cincinnati Bengals: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Entering the 2024 NFL season, I stated that Malaki Starks was my top overall prospect on my 2025 big board. While his stats may be a bit disappointing this year, I still think to trust my eyes regarding his single-high or box versatility, play-diagnosing skills, route recognition and reaction, ball skills, and physicality both in run support and at the catch point.
11) Chicago Bears: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
The Matt Eberflus era is over, which makes this pick a bit of mystery from a schematic standpoint. But the one thing the Chicago Bears could use is a pass-rushing savant, which Georgia’s Jalon Walker has done at a high level in 2025.
Walker’s 32 total tackles and 5.5 sacks this year are both career highs, which means the production is starting to mirror the elite talent. That makes for a scary combination in an athletic 6’2’’, 245-pound frame.
12) Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
One could certainly argue that the Miami Dolphins need to double down on an edge rusher with the litany of injuries they’ve continued to endure along the line in consecutive years. However, we got a glimpse into how this offense looks when Tua Tagovailoa isn’t healthy.
Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. has the pass-blocking chops to work opposite Terron Armstead and act as an anchor to the blindside of a left-handed quarterback who needs to be protected at all costs. Additionally, Banks’ fluid athleticism should work very well in this zone-based scheme that would love to consistently get to the edge with the speed of De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright in the rushing attack.
13) Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Feel free to lose me with the noise of not drafting a running back in the first round. The Dallas Cowboys thought they could completely bypass addressing the RB position in early portions of free agency and the NFL Draft and currently rank 31st in the league with just 85.8 rushing yards per game.
Ashton Jeanty is a dynamic three-down prospect who would instantly give Dallas’ offense an explosive element that the opposing defense must account for, making life easier on Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
14) San Francisco 49ers: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Trent Williams isn’t going to play forever, and the interior of the San Francisco 49ers’ offensive line isn’t exactly littered with All-Pros.
Will Campbell would be a potential option in this zone-based scheme that places a high emphasis on both physicality and movement ability in the running game, which he does at a high level. Campbell could flex inside to start his career but provide the Niners with a long-term plan at left tackle once Williams decides to hang up the cleats.
15) Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Last year, the Indianapolis Colts were just two picks away from landing Brock Bowers. Michigan TE Colston Loveland may not be the can’t-miss prospect that Bowers was, but he is still a dynamic pass-catching prospect.
This offense has been devoid of a reliable producer alongside Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Jonathan Taylor.
16) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense under Liam Coen has helped take Baker Mayfield’s game to the next level, but the defense has still had issues putting it all together.
One reason why has been the ability to consistently put pressure on the quarterback from the edges. Nic Scourton has the alignment versatility and athleticism to provide this unit with both a pass-rushing threat and a significant upgrade to William Gholston, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and Anthony Nelson on the opposite side of YaYa Diaby.
17) Los Angeles Rams: Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
The Los Angeles Rams defense has done an outstanding job of adding quality defenders through the draft in recent years. However, the secondary has still had its fair share of issues since Jalen Ramsey’s departure.
One way to quickly address this issue is to add a long and physical corner like Shavon Revel. The Rams’ defense runs zone coverages like Cover 3, Cover 4, or Cover 6 on 66.7% of their snaps, which only elevates Revel’s impact with his ball skills, route recognition, and physicality.
18) Arizona Cardinals: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
One could argue that Marvin Harrison Jr. has been a bit of a disappointment his rookie year, but his role in the Arizona Cardinals’ offense has mostly been relegated to the outside of the formation. This leaves a role as either a movement Z or dynamic slot weapon up for grabs, which Luther Burden III could thrive in alongside Harrison.
19) Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The addition of Matthew Judon to this pass-rushing unit has not yielded the results Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris likely hoped for when they traded for him ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Thus, the Atlanta Falcons should be happy to add a twitchy and explosive edge threat like Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. to the mix.
Pearce doesn’t have all the tricks of the pass-rushing trade perfected yet and can be a bit of a liability as a run defender. Nevertheless, his upside is as high as any prospect in this class if he can continue to expand his pass-rushing skill set to go with his elite athleticism.
20) Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Denver Broncos have found something with Bo Nix under center in Sean Payton’s offensive scheme, which has been predicated on timing and seeing the defense through the same set of eyes as the quarterback.
Emeka Egbuka has the versatility and route-running nuance to be an effective chess piece in this position room as a possession receiver who gives you a little something extra as a YAC threat.
21) Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
The interior of the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line was completely exposed against the Giants earlier this season when Dexter Lawrence absolutely wrecked the game for Ryan Grubb’s offense. One way to quickly address that is to add the human forklift from Alabama in Tyler Booker, who plays every bit as strong as his 6’5’’ 352-pound frame would suggest.
22) Washington Commanders: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Washington Commanders’ turnaround has taken place without the presence of a truly dynamic edge rusher. Dan Quinn would love to land a prospect like Mykel Williams, who possesses all of the physical tools scouts salivate over.
Williams’ flashes of dominance paired with elite athleticism and prototypical size and length are enough to warrant this pick alone, yet his versatility adds another element to his upside as a moveable weapon in this scheme.
23) Houston Texans: Cameron Williams, OL, Texas
The résumé may not be very long, but the talent of Texas’ Cameron Williams is very hard to dispute.
Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud has been under pressure far more often in Year 2. Adding talent along the offensive line that is capable of generating movement in the running game and anchoring against power edge rushers is necessary for the Texans.
24) Baltimore Ravens: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
If injuries weren’t a part of the pre-draft process, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison could be a top-10 pick. Unfortunately, Morrison will fall some due to a hip injury, but his sticky man-coverage skills would make for a welcome addition to a secondary that has struggled throughout the majority of the season.
25) Los Angeles Chargers: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Tough, physical, and versatile players can find a way to get on a football field for a Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman offense.
Penn State TE Tyler Warren has displayed all of these traits while adding great ball skills, impressive RAC ability, and nuanced route running to make him worthy of first-round draft capital for a team in desperate need of adding reliable pass-catching options around Justin Herbert.
26) Pittsburgh Steelers: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
If the Pittsburgh Steelers decide to bring back Russell Wilson, then adding another vertical receiver should be a priority. At 6’3’’ and 210 pounds, Tre Harris has the physical profile to operate effectively outside as a contested-catch threat with plenty of RAC ability to function as a quality complementary option to George Pickens.
27) Green Bay Packers: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Versatility along a defensive line unit is always important, but adding prospects with an elite profile can elevate a solid unit into an elite one pretty quickly. Walter Nolen would instantly add a blue-chip prospect to work alongside Kenny Clark, Kingsley Enagbare, and T.J. Slaton.
28) Minnesota Vikings: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Versatility is paramount for a secondary player in a blitz-heavy scheme like Brian Flores’ in Minnesota. Jahdae Barron has managed to perform quite well at a variety of alignments, including time as an outside corner, slot defender, and safety.
Harrison Smith can’t do it forever, which makes adding a versatile player who can contribute in a variety of ways a nice addition to this secondary.
29) Buffalo Bills: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
The Buffalo Bills defense has managed to navigate a multitude of injuries for a second consecutive season but could still use another consistent edge producer to contribute alongside Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, and the aging Von Miller. This makes the rangy Princely Umanmielen — who has registered a career-high 10.5 sacks this year — a quality addition in the later part of Round 1.
Umanmielen has uncommon acceleration for a player his size, which makes him a tough assignment for tackles who tend to overset in pass protection because of his effective inside counters and nasty spin move.
30) Philadelphia Eagles: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
The Philadelphia Eagles love to invest early-round draft capital up front on both sides of the ball. The addition of Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea continues that trend.
The Wildcat product has impressive lateral movement ability while packing a powerful punch at the point of attack. That could make him a terror as a run blocker at either guard or tackle down the road.
Personally, Savaiinaea’s lack of consistency with his hand placement against craftier edge rushers can be hidden a bit more if he slides into guard for Philadelphia.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OL, Oregon
The tackle positions have been the weakest aspect of the Kansas City Chiefs offensive line in 2024, which makes adding a prospect with great movement ability and prototypical length to develop into a reliable pass protector for Patrick Mahomes a priority.
32) Detroit Lions: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
The Detroit Lions defense lost one of the NFL’s premier edge rushers earlier this season when Aidan Hutchinson went down. Detroit immediately made it a priority to add a veteran, which speaks to their lack of depth at the position.
Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer is a well-rounded player who blends a versatile pass-rushing arsenal with the competent ability to operate as a run defender opposite of an elite pass rusher.